Albion are still fourth and four points away from an automatic promotion spot.

But their cushion over the teams chasing a play-off place in the Championship has been cut to five points after today's results.

Middlesbrough beat Derby 2-0 in the top-of-the-table clash at the Riverside Stadium to power four points clear with a game in hand.

Derby remain the same number of points ahead of the Seagulls and a point above Hull in third.

Fifth-placed Burnley and sixth-placed Ipswich drew 0-0 at Turf Moor to close to within two points and three points of Albion respectively.

Sheffield Wednesday, in seventh, won 1-0 at Fulham, their first victory at Craven Cottage since 1967.

Birmingham, in eighth, are also on 39 points, five below Albion, after a last-gasp 2-1 home win against Brentford.

Mustapha Carayol, on loan to Albion last season, netted in a 2-0 win for Huddersfield at bottom club Bolton.

Huddersfield are the next visitors to the Amex on January 23.

Albion have three away games in a row before then, beginning at Hull next Saturday in the third round of the FA Cup.